File photo of an avalanche in north India during last week that killed four people.

(TOI / BCCL, Delhi)

Concerns over possible avalanche incidents rise as Himachal Pradesh experiences widespread snowfall triggered due to a western disturbance (WD) lying over north Pakistan.

“Due to the possibility of heavy snowfall a medium range avalanche warning has been issued. It is advised that locals and tourists should not venture into high hills that are prone to avalanche”, said an official from the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) team in Chandigarh.

Isolated places across Himachal Pradesh are expected to receive up to 1.5 feet of snow till Saturday evening. "The higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur and Chamba districts have been experiencing snow since Thursday, while mid and lower hills have been experiencing rain," an India Met Department (IMD) official said.

Even though the snowfall is expected to subside from Saturday, a fresh WD is slated to approach the north on 18th February. The WD is likely to bring heavy snow and rain in the region once again.

As per the reports, the recurring avalanches in Lahaul-Spiti district have caused extensive damages to a petrol pump, motorable bridges, dhabas, buildings, and a liquor shop.

The three low-intensity earthquakes in the Kangra district since February 5 along with the recent avalanche in Tandi region of Keylong district has only renewed fears amongst the local residents.

Meanwhile, a rockslide in Banala near Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh – widely believed to have been caused due to excessive construction activities in the area – blocked the Chandigarh-Manali highway. The incident compelled police authorities to divert the flow of traffic to other routes like the Katuala-Bajaura bypass road.

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